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HGTV’s American-flag ‘tablecloth’ draws outrage

In a segment about table settings for the Fourth of July, an article on Home and Garden Television’s website suggested that an American flag would make “a bright and festive table runner.” The article even noted the flag should be nylon to avoid staining from spills, so the flag could be flown later.

The result? Bombs bursting in air, so to speak.

“It's Flag Day,” one commenter wrote on HGTV’s Facebook page. “Let me guess - HGTV is going to celebrate by burning one today?”

Quite a few of the recent comments on HGTV’s Facebook page lash out at the cable network over the flag suggestion, which hit Fox News Radio on Wednesday and then spread to Gawker and other sites.

Gawker caught this comment about the suggestion: “No one dies for a table cloth.”

HGTV apologized in a Facebook post, saying:

“This was a regrettable use of our flag and it never should have happened. We sincerely apologize and have removed the post from our website. We want to assure our fans that HGTV is proud of the American flag and everything it symbolizes for our people.”

The original post on HGTV’s website suggesting the flag tablecloth appears to have been taken down.

HGTV’s Facebook apology earned more than 2,200 “likes,” though quite a few of the nearly 800 commenters who replied didn’t seem satisfied.

“While I appreciate your willingness to apologize after so many Americans pointed out your mistake, I am still more than disappointed that you weren't knowledgeable enough before the fact,” said one commenter.

Others took the opportunity to offer additional gripes.

“I can accept their apology for this one, but what I can't accept or stomach, are endless endless reruns of ‘Love it Or List It,’” one person chimed in. “God I'm sick of that show. What happened to Candice Olsen or Sarah Richardson?”